Never forget – then and now

Today is Veteran’s Day, an opportunity for all of us to say thank you to those who served in our nation’s armed forces, and continue to do so today, to ensure the freedoms we enjoy.

For some people, Veterans Day is nothing special. They don’t seem to comprehend the magnitude of previous wars or the lasting impact they had on the American psyche.

Perhaps it’s easy to forget the contributions American soldiers made decades ago, in far-away lands. Local veterans groups try hard to keep that from happening. They work tirelessly all year long to honor veterans by doing presentations in our schools, hosting special events, dinners and auctions.

Veterans Day is a day the rest of the nation can join in that effort and we encourage people to attend a community ceremony for veterans at 11 a.m. today at the VFW Hall, 507 Pacific Ave. in Brookings.

As you read this, another group of American soldiers – many of them your children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers and friends – are putting themselves in harm’s way in dozens of countries. Whether you support these military efforts or not, these Americans should be honored, not shunned, as were so many Vietnam veterans upon returning home.

Veteran’s Day is a time when we can, without glorifying war, be proud of our veterans, past and present.